Cantaloupes recalled for salmonella

Wash outer surface before slicing

Wash outer surface before slicing

April 03, 2007

WASHINGTON - The Dole Fresh Fruit Co. recalled several thousand cartons of imported cantaloupes Friday after the fruit tested positive for salmonella. The recall, which covers the eastern United States and the Canadian province of Quebec, is the second sparked by salmonella fears this week. On Wednesday, ConAgra Foods Inc. recalled its Peter Pan brand and certain batches of Wal-Mart's Great Value house brand of peanut butter after they were linked to a salmonella outbreak that's sickened nearly 300 people in 39 states. Dole said there have been no reports of illness due to the contaminated cantaloupes, which were grown in Costa Rica. The company said the recall covered roughly 6,104 cartons of cantaloupes distributed to wholesalers in the eastern United States and Quebec between Feb. 5 and Feb. 8. The cantaloupes have a light green color skin and orange flesh, the Westlake Village, Calif. company said. The cantaloupes were distributed for sale in bulk in cardboard cartons, with nine, 12 or 15 cantaloupes to a carton, Dole said. The recalled cartons are dark brown with "Dole Cantaloupes" in red lettering. They have a thirteen-digit number on a white tag pasted to the carton; the tenth digit is a "2." Consumers with questions should call the store where they bought the cantaloupes or contact Dole at (800) 232-8888. Salmonella sickens about 40,000 people a year in the U.S. and kills about 600. It can cause diarrhea, fever, dehydration, abdominal pain and vomiting. Salmonella infections have been linked to melons at least since 1990, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Food and Drug Administration recommends consumers wash the outer surface of cantaloupes and other melons with cool tap water before slicing into them. If they're not washed, the cutting and any subsequent handling can spread contamination from the outer skin to the flesh of the fruit.